Mar 9 | Money Saving Tips
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
9 Tips for Gardening on a Budget
Are you ready to “get growing?” The arrival of spring has many ready to get outdoors and start planting their gardens, but what if you are working on a limited budget? Well the good news is, gardening doesn’t have to be expensive, and in fact it can be a great way to save yourself some cash in the long run. If you are considering planting a garden this season and want to do so for less, take a look at these 9 tips for gardening on a budget. You will be amazed at how easy it can be to “get growing” for less!
1. Start your seeds indoors.
Sure you can buy seedlings, but starting your own seeds indoors is cheaper! A seedling cost at least $1-$5, while you can get an entire pack of seeds for $1 or less. So start your seeds indoors using seed starters and some basic soil, and you can have your own seedlings in no time. (Read this how-to post for details on how to start your seeds indoors!)
2. Check out your local dollar store.
Dollar stores have a great selection of gardening gear for just $1 each. Choose from seeds, flower pots, gardening gloves, fertilizer spikes, watering cans, starter trays, and more! It is a great way to build your gardening stash for less.
3. Use natural fertilizers.
Instead of buying plant food and fertilizers, try making your own! Crushed egg shells and coffee grounds make excellent plant food. You can also use fruit peels to help nourish the soil and keep your plants healthy.
4. Practice chemical free pest repellent.
Again, you can buy your own pest repellent, but why not make your own for less? A simple spray bottle of water and a few drops of Dawn Dish Soap can help keep many pests at bay! This is a great way to save cash and omit chemicals in your garden.
5. Start a rain barrel.
Instead of spending money on watering your garden, catch rainwater instead. A rain barrel is the perfect trick for catching rain perfect for watering your garden with. Even a small barrel or bucket can give you enough water to keep a small garden satisfied.
6. Make your own garden markers.
You can make garden markers out of all kinds of household materials. Try making some from wood craft sticks and markers to get started. This is a great way to keep your garden organized for less.
7. Team up with friends.
Team up with friends and neighbors to borrow each other’s gardening tools and equipment. You can even share seedlings and thinned out plants you no longer need. This is a great way to get the items you need for cheap or even free.
8. Use a small space.
Rather than tilling up a large piece of land for a garden, try out small space gardening! Living in a townhouse, we actually don’t have the land for a big garden so I put container gardening to use. Sometimes that might even feel overwhelming. If so, try growing just a few herbs that you often buy from the grocery store. Or grow a lasagna garden so you have all the ingredients for a delicious marinara sauce on hand. Here are a few more ways to grow a garden in a small space.
9. Look into community gardening.
Community gardening could be a great option for those of you that want a big garden but don’t have the space or want the time commitment. Do a little research about the community garden options in your city to see if this might be a good fit for you.
Gardening is a great way to grow your own food and save some cash. Give these tips for gardening on a budget a try and see how easy it can be to grow for less.
See the other articles in this series, here.
Feb 13 | Household Tips
Now here’s a great idea for reusing those containers that grocery store roasted chickens comes in! Start your garden seeds in them!
Head over to Read Between the Limes for more tips.
Jun 4 | Household Tips
I’ve been a little bit of a lazy container gardener this year. I had grand plans to really use our space to grow a lot of veggies, but… I got lazy or overwhelmed. I wanted to construct some sort of vertical gardening space that would allow me to plant herbs, radishes, lettuce and strawberries.
You see, I’m really good at deciding that I’m going to do something, just not so good on the follow through 😛 Maybe next year!
I still haven’t planted my lettuce seeds or my potatoes. But, I was proud of the fact that I scored some free seed potatoes by putting a call out on a local Facebook Buy & Sell site! I’ll get to planting them this week, promise. 🙂
Here goes for my first update.
First up, is a picture of my flower pot, mints (chocolate and apple) and tomatoes. I hope to make delicious teas this year using those mints! (read all about apple mint here.)
This year, I found a window box variety of Roma tomatoes and the other cherry tomato is a Sweet 100.
I’m not a huge fan of dried rosemary so I bought a rosemary plant that I hope to use fresh in my cooking. Not pictured, is a basil plant I have at the front of the house.
Last year I had beans and peas planted in this big container, but they didn’t really grow well. So, this year, I decided to try something different and create a mosquito planter! I’ll have more details about it in a seperate post in the near future.
I’ll be back with another update soon because there’s been growth since I took these pictures and I’ll have more planted!
How’s your garden doing?
May 26 | Household Tips
If you love cooking with fresh herbs, you will want to make space in your garden for basil and oregano. Both come in handy when making salads, marinades, infusions and more. If you are new to growing these herbs, take a peek below at some tips for growing and using basil and oregano in your own garden. They are easy to grow and practical herbs you are sure to enjoy.
Basil:
When planting basil, you will want to remember these basics:
- This herb needs 6 to 8 hours of good sun
- Avoid planting until after the threat of frost has passed.
- Plant your basil plants a good 12-18 inches apart.
- Soil should be well drained, and you may fertilize twice during the growing season.
Here are some wonderful ways you can enjoy basil at home:
- Crumble leaves on top of your pizza, garlic bread, or other baked dishes.
- Add a few leaves to a bottle of olive oil for some extra flavor.
- Plant basil in your yard to help repel certain varieties of pests.
- Blend the leaves into pesto to freeze and use later.
- Add basil leaves to your salad, dips, and even soups.
- Basil can even be added by the leaf to your pasta dishes.
Now, let’s explore another great herb, oregano!
Oregano:
When planting oregano, you will want to remember these basics:
- Oregano doesn’t mind shade. Therefore a good 5-6 hours of sun is plenty.
- Well drained soil is a must when growing this herb.
- Cut away dead stems and foliage as the plant grows to encourage new growth.
- Give plants a good six inches in between each to grow.
- Oregano does not respond well to fertilizer, so just be sure to take proper care of your plants so they thrive.
Here are some wonderful ways you can enjoy oregano at home:
- Add some crumbled oregano to your pizza and pizza sauces.
- Add a few leaves to your pasta dishes and casseroles.
- While your soup is simmering add a leaf or two of oregano for more flavor.
- Infuse a bottle of olive oil with oregano leaves.
So what are you waiting for? Give these herbs a try and your table will never lack flavor!
May 22 | Household Tips
Most people associate the herb dill, with a jar full of dill pickles. If you love the flavor of dill, you’ll want to try growing your own so you always have it on hand. Growing your own dill is easy, just take a look below at some helpful tips to get you started. This is a fun and functional herb that is easy to enjoy and even easier to use!
How to plant and care for dill:
- Plant dill in the early summer when temperatures have reached at least 70 degrees.
- Plant your dill plants a good 12-18 inches apart from each other.
- Dill pairs well when planted next to cabbage, so if you are growing cabbage they make great companion plants.
- Water frequently, daily if the weather is especially hot and dry.
- Remove any yellowing or dry, dead foliage as soon as it appears.
- Take care to protect the delicate plants from strong wind or heavy foot traffic.
Once you have grown a healthy harvest of dill, you’ll want to use it! Dill can be used in a variety of ways around your home and yard. Let’s take a look at some of those ways below:
How to use dill:
- Add some fresh dill to your fish before baking.
- Add dill to your assorted oils and vinegars for extra flavor.
- Pickle your own vegetables adding dill for extra zest.
- Pep up your salads and dips when you add some fresh dill.
- Plant dill in your flower beds to attract bugs that would eat harmful pests.
- Add some dill to your potato salad to make it a crowd favorite.
- Dill adds unique flavor to soups, marinades, and stews.
Dill is a fun herb that can be used and enjoyed in so many ways. Try growing your own batch of it this growing season so you have plenty on hand for all of these ideas. You will be so glad you did!
